I sit on the ground in daze. The eunuch who repeatedly talk to me finally place down the royal scroll on my hands. People around me begin to talk. Suddenly it comes to my mind and i get up in a haste.
"My Prince is not dead! There is no body there is no physical body to claim. How can you say that he is dead?!" He is not dead!"
"Shung Yu! Keep quiet! Don't say a word!" My father yell at me. I keep repeating the same sentences again and again. Till Granny Li place her hand over my mouth and some some drag me away with her. After they put me in the bedroom, my father came in. I keep repeating the same sentences to him. "Enough enough, i know what you are saying and thinking. I am not a fool. I have already ask some of my soldiers to look around the battlefield area. Also have asked some generals to keep a look out. He is a tough nut to crack. Won't die so easily. Don't worry."
"Father i'm not worring about that. That stupid decree! i'm worrying about that! I don't want to move to another bigger cage no matter how glamour it is? Once i go in there there is no turning back."
"I know it's difficult but we will try. Let me think how to get around with this. Meanwhile, please please please don't go crazy and wild. Don't say anything crazy too. Just go accompany your mother if possible. Play with little peach. I will do the rest. Who in the world make me as your father... the sky falls, the father take care of it. The son in law goes missing, the father in law goes searching for him. Being a father is tough. So tough!" He grumble as he walk out of the room.
The mansion of Prince Xian is temporary seal with off limits. The servants working inside are still employed and working as per normal. While the remain army he left behind are transfer to General Tang. His other properties are temporary keep by the royal treasure house. While for General Tang, She is one of the few remaining generals working for this country, she will be remaining to defence for the capital city therefore she is exempted to moved into the palace. While for me, the eunuch have come a few times to remind me that little peach and i needed to move into the palace. My mother gave an excused that she is not well and her daughter and grand daughter are the ones keeping her spirit up. In the end, the emperor sent a final decree that in two months time we have to move into the palace. If not we will be treated as defying the law and will be exile.
In a warm sunny day, little peach who return from the palace, is running around in the gardens. General Tang appear when the sun is at it brighest. We sat in the pavilion by the pond. As usual i pour tea for us. She takes a slip and look ahead. "Say what is it. Why are you here? I thought that you don't want to talk to me again."
"I already sent my men to search a hundred li around the battlefield as well as the villages near there. I still can't find a man with similar description. I will continue to find him and protect this capital as well. It is best you move into the palace to receive the protection from the new emperor. Your father cannot be protecting you forever. My late father had tried to protect me. He protect me by shamelessly asking Prince Xian Wen to marry me. In the end, i still have to find my own protection. I advice you to find someone with a power that can save you and Su clan before Xian Wen return..."
"Than you for your advice and thank you for visiting. I think i shall not hold you back on your business somewhere else. Good day and may peace with you."
"Why aren't you listening?This is for your own good. In the long run..."
"My father already have his own plans. You don't need to worry for us.Please protect your clan as much as you can. I will wait for his return. Chun Ting see the guest out, please." General Tang is unhappy but she still walk up to little peach and talk to her. Little peach stare at her with her big eyes then she look at me. Little peach run to me and hide behid. She stands up with a loft look then walk off. I don't want to be her enemy nor friend. It is best that we remain a familiar stranger. She might not be a bad person but i detest people who attempted to control me. I refused to be control by others again. "Mother, who is she? Why she ask me to follow her?"
"She is your father's other wife. When i die, you have to go to her."
"I won't go anywhere without mother or my grandparents!"I hug my little peach. Even thought she is not my flesh and blood. She is mine from my heart and soul.
This fight won't be easy. I fear the dragon throne more than life itself.
The day the late emperor is buried in the royal mausoleum. Every member of the royal family is dressed in white and black. While the officers of this empire is dress in their uniform. The only missing is the missing prince and now the dowager. Even the injured Bo Wu is present. He is limping throughout the procession. The sad songs and the ritual papers are in the air. Some are wailing like ghost in the night. The hundred concubines who had not given birth for the late emperor follow the procession like a zombie. Everyone of them knows that their end is reaching soon. Each of them dress with the same dress and the same neat hairstyle walks a distance in two single rolls behind the coffin of the late emperor. Their family members are not allow to see them off. They all stayed in their mansions with the monk chanting for the souls of these girls who will be accompany the late emperor to death. After an hour of walking with the coffin, the sun hide behind the clouds. As we approach the mausoleum, some of those hundred concubines got crazy. Some of them started to run into different direction Some of them knee down begging for mercy. It is chaotic and the soldiers got busy going after the ones who run away. While all these are happening, the coffin is placed into the tomb. There are many laid tables with pillows surrounding the coffin. I presume its for the concubines to lay down. Those who did not run nor go crazy walk into the tomb in calm manners. They drink from the bowl that the eunuchs had given. After that they lay down nicely as if they are going to sleep. The ones who are capture are force to drink the liquid. They struggle, they puke, they cry. Eventually they stop moving and the soldiers who are holding them, place them on the table. Once all the concubines and the other offerings are placed in the tomb, the door is closed and the soldiers sealed the tomb. Monks continue to chant with the table infront of the tomb. Eventually the rain comes. The eunuches rush to shelter the new emperor and empress first then the others. While everyone scramble for shelter, i stand there infront of the tomb with the monks. "Your majesty, if you can hear me, can you please help to find Xian Wen. If he is lost, can you please show him the way. He is your son too, bring him home please." I go down on my knees and give three bows with my hands facing up.